Page 15 - CHUFC v. Lydd Town

LYDD TOWN

Lydd Town were formed in 1885. in Premier
Their early matches were played at D i v i s io n
The Banks where the cricket ground East instead
now lies. of the top
Senior Division.
Their first trophy success was in 1909/10 The league title was won that season
when they beat Icklesham 2-0 to win the and with it promotion into the top divi-
Rye Charity Cup. Before the First World sion. It was in 1989/90 that Lydd’s most
War Lydd played in the South Eastern successful period started. They won the
(Ashford) League. They moved groun- League five years in a row, three years
din 1911 to play their matches at The in the Eastern Senior Division and fol-
Rype in the centre of Lydd. In 1920/21 lowing the League re-organisation when
the club joined the Folkestone and Dis- the Premier Division as it is now known
trict Junior League winning it for the first was formed (combining the Eastern and
time in 1926/27. In 1921 their colours Western clubs) they won the First Di-
were changed from blue and white to red vision East two years running. In four chairman Pat Lindsey. Lydd’s most re- cation was made to be a part of the
and green which remain their current of those years the league and cup dou- cent successes were in the Kent Interme- new Step Six League for 2011/12 and
colours. ble were achieved as well as many oth- diate Challenge Shield final in 2000/01 the Club finished the inaugural season
A new pavilion was built er cup success. The decision was taken when they defeated Phoenix Sports 1-0 in 12th place.
The club suspended activities in 1939 to move up to the Premier Division at Ashford Town F.C and in 2002/03 in In 2012/13, with Dave Smith taking over

and restarted again in 1946 after the war. for the 1994/95 season, despite con- the Les Leckie Cup Final against Milton as manager, Lydd finished 6th and were
Considerable success inthe league and cern over their facilities not being up Sports at Chatham Town F.C. where they runners up to Hollands & Blair in the
cups in the years following culminating to the required standard. Their best won a penalty shoot-out 5-4 following a Invicta League Challenge Trophy, los-
in the league and cup double in 1958/59 finish was runners-up in1995/96. The 2-2 score after extra time.Things then be- ing 4-3 at Homelands Ashford. In sea-
saw Lydd move up to the Kent Amateur club desperately needed a new ground came difficult for a few seasons and the son 2013/14 Lydd finished as runners up
League. A new pavilion was built on The as their Council owned facilities at The first team were relegated from the Pre- in the league to Hollands & Blair. Work
Rype in 1961 presented to the town by Rype were becoming increasingly criti- mier Divisionat the end of the 2005/06 has since been carried out on The Lind-
Alderman Gordon Paine, MBE, for the cised and their future as a Premier Di- season. The first team did however win sey Field which includes the installa-
use of local sports clubs. In 1962/63 their vision club could have been in doubt. A the Weald of Kent Senior Competition tion of floodlights, two 50-seater stands,
Reserves entered the League. In 1969/70 successful application for a lottery grant in2007 beating Premier Division Brom- turnstile and fencing to fully enclose the
Lydd won the Kent Amateur League for was made and with the funds the club ley Green 4-2 in the final. Further rele- ground. With the merger of The Invicta
the first time and retained it the follow- raised they moved to their new groun- gation followed but the appointment of League with the Southern Counties East
ing season. More success in cups fol- don the outskirts of the town in 1999/00. Manager Dave Johncock in December Football League, the first team now play
lowed but it was to be some time before World Cup hero George Cohen official- 2009 saw theclub’s fortunes pick up and in the SCEFL Division 1.
they won the league again. In 1984/85, af- ly opened the ground, named after long in season 2010/11 Lydd were runners up Plans for nexts eason include installation
ter a league re-organisation, Lydd played serving player, manager and current in Division Two East. A successful appli- of pitch drainage.